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Creation of primitive stone tools has long been attributed to the early humans’ intelligence but that may change soon as a species of Brazilian monkeys has recently been found creating similar stone tools.

A team of researchers led by Tomos Proffitt of Oxford University said they were surprised when they saw bearded capuchin monkeys (Sapajus libidinosus) in a Brazilian forest creating stone tools.

The wild beasts were creating stone flakes, a sort of primitive tool that could be used as a blunt knife, by hitting one rock with another in a certain manner to break flakes.

Extended space travel, such as trips to Mars, will put astronauts at a serious risk of brain damage as they will get bombarded by harmful cosmic radiation, a new study conducted by UC Irvine researchers warned.

According to the study, the damage triggered by cosmic radiation might be bad enough to affect the astronauts’ memory as well as heighten anxiety. The brain damage will likely be permanent and untreatable.

On Friday, American Airlines Group Inc reported first-quarter profit, slightly higher than estimated by analysts. The airline also announced a $0.10 dividend thanks to cheap fuel that helped its bottom line. American is the world's largest passenger carrier.

Last quarter, the airline earned $932 million, approximately double its profit a year earlier. According to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S, apart from special items, the airline earned $1.2 billion, or $1.73 per diluted share, compared to analysts' average forecast of $1.71 per diluted share.

The fourth largest platinum miner in the world, Aquarius Platinum, has reported lower revenue for the quarter as the platinum prices in the international market have remained range-bound. The three major platinum miners in South Africa are facing labor unrest as AMCU announced strike in January this year.

Food processing major Pioneer Foods has announced that the company is expecting to register a strong set of half yearly numbers. The company has managed to cut costs and this would result in better quarterly data.

Pioneer Foods official statement said that the company is expecting 110 percent rise in half year earnings. The company registered better sales in international market. The decline in Rand will also help the profit in local currency.

Standard Bank has declared 14 percent increase in full year earnings due to improved interest income on lending. The bank has increased its revenue from other African markets, now accounting for 24 percent of its business. The headline earnings per share increased to 1,065 cents compared to 935 cents in year 2012.

Telecom major MTN has reported nearly 10 percent increase in number of subscribers on its network and 27 percent increase in full-year earnings. MTN added 9.3 million new subscribers in Nigeria. In South Africa, the subscriber based swelled by 279,000.

The competition in the South African market has hit the company revenues in its home market. The company reported higher revenue in Nigeria compared to South Africa. MTN’s South African operations have been leading the revenue in the consolidated earnings of the telecom major.